In this world, we are going to suffer. It’s true. That’s what Peter is saying at the end of his letter. There are spiritual things going on in this world that he wants us to remember. First, we have an enemy, and a very real one at that. And his most successful tactical move toward defeating us is perhaps our own tendency toward distraction. We’d much rather look for ways to explain our pain and suffering, or find ways to numb or ignore it—anything but lean into it.
The world is blind to the schemes of the enemy, who has also blinded their eyes to the light of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4–6). This is why Peter is pleading with Christ-followers to “be sober-minded, be alert.” Because our “adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
Now, I can assure you that when facing down a lion, real or hypothetical, my first instinct will always be to flee, not stand and fight. And this lion Peter is warning us about is very real, indeed—whether we’re aware of him or not—and he is always stalking us, circling, looking for a weakness to exploit. Therefore, we are to “resist him,” standing “firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by [our] fellow believers throughout the world” (v.9). We must be awake to his schemes.
Suffering throughout a fallen world? The enemy would far rather we continue to be surprised by it, especially if, in the midst of our pain, we begin to doubt the goodness of our God. And so we must remember that our personal pain and suffering this side of heaven are not the exception (1 Peter 4:12). Nor are our struggles really with one another; they are with evil itself (Ephesians 6:12).
This enemy will use every weapon in his arsenal to abuse us and tear us away from the path God has called us to. He wants to keep us from maturing in the faith, and he most definitely does not want us to become who God created us to be: devoted lovers of God, who display His love and splendor to the world. Our enemy wants to wound us and will stop at nothing to do it.
But here’s the most important thing to remember: Jesus Christ defeated death and evil itself (John 16:33), and if we are in Him, we’ve conquered them too—the enemy cannot harm us (1 John 5:4, 18–19). We belong to a loving, all-powerful God, who does not abuse us through suffering. Instead, He draws us closer to Him, healing and transforming us through our pain—not in spite of it. Because of this, we will never be crushed under the weight of persecution or affliction. This suffering is only temporary, but our salvation is secure, our relationship with our Creator everlasting (2 Corinthians 4:7–9, 16–18). And after we have suffered a little while, God Himself will restore us and make us strong, firm and steadfast (1 Peter 5:10). Thanks be to our God.
Kara Gause is a content editor for She Reads Truth, happily residing with her family in Nashville, Tennessee.
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39 thoughts on "Firm in the Faith"
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Wow, this could not have been more timely or spot on for the season I am in. So good! Thank you, SRT team, for partnering with God to bring us powerful truths just when we need to hear them! I am in a battle and was in a fog for a few days but have a not so fun appt today at 10am. I would greatly appreciate the prayer as I walk out this tough season. Staying strong, staying in the word, hugs to all my Sisters here!!
Can’t help think of Sri Lanka and then look at my day ahead- different trials different nations, and yet the same Lord using both circumstances for his plan and good.
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This is such a great reminder of how our perspective should be. I know that many times I am distracted by the things of this world and I don’t always focus on God’s plan or purpose for me in the moment. I am a more concerned my “to do’s”.
Amen
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day” (1 Peter 5:16). Suffering is a normal part of life in a broken world. We don’t like it because life truly isn’t supposed to be this way. But God’s promises are true. His faithfulness is sure. He is why we can live in hope and confidence even when the world seems to be falling apart all around us!
Kimberly, Thank you so much for you prayers and kind thoughts. I am so grateful for this new season we are walking into. But equally grateful for the season we just went through. Thank you for your diligent consideration over my family and I. I hope all is well your way! ~ B
We get such a good description of how the devil tries to get at us from the scriptures today. I tend to feel like I am aware of when the devil is at work against me, but the truth of the matter is he is always working against me. Every wicked thought, every sinful action, every worry, every doubt- that’s all the devil.
This world will give us struggles and the Enemy will attack, but God will heal and restore us and make us better, stronger, and wiser. And He will be with us through the struggle and fill us with peace
I resonated with today’s message so much. I have definitely felt the enemy using distractions to keep me from pursuing my relationship with God and fulfilling my purpose. I always said after I graduated college, I wanted to move back to my hometown Houston…while I was in my college town I met a guy who I thought I wanted to settle down with. The relationship has proven to be a delay in pursuing my original plans and has only left me with doubt and insecurities.
So timely today. I struggle with depression & lately these outbursts of rage. I just assumed it was still a chemical brain thing, but then, got results from some lab work and they found a liver problem. Some of the symptoms from the liver issue exaserbated the depression. It’s been a hard month to focus on anything, pray, etc. I reached out to a friend & prayer warrior this morning, and then this is our reading, and the wisdom of you ladies. I’m in awe of our loving, all powerful God.
To Betsy ~ I’m lifting my hands in praise to our God and King for this great news!! Thank you, thank you, Jesus! Thank you supplying this job for Betsy’s husband and for your provision for their family through it all!! Wish I could have posted this as a reply to your comment but the website won’t let me do that anymore:(
Our difficult season persists though it is definitely waning. God has been faithful through this journey. I admit it’s hard not to want to rush the process and see vindication immediately. We know this is a refining time and though it is not always pleasant we know He is caring and providing for us. We stay soberly- minded in the fact that He is good and His ways are good. It doesn’t matter if I fully understand or not. We trust and obey.
Churchmouse, I continue to pray for you in this season.
“But after we have suffered a little while, God himself will restore us and make a strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Peter 5:10). I really needed this devotional this morning. I love how God always works it out to hear what we need to hear that very day we need it. As I mentioned earlier this week I have court this morning at 8:30 AM facing my kids dad.
Hi, ladies! Today’s devotional struck home with me, and I’d like to lay a prayer request on you all. My family is in a very rough season right now. My amazing husband is working a full time job on top of taking online classes to further his career and hopefully get a better job closer to home. What that means is I’m on mom duty 24/7 for our 10 month old son. (I mean, what mom isn’t?? But you get what I mean.)
I know he needs to focus, because the sooner he gets his schooling done, the sooner we can move to the next chapter in our lives. And it won’t last forever. But it’s really hard feeling like a single parent when you’re not.
I pray that I feel God’s presence surround me more as we trek through this hard season in our lives right now. I ask that God show himself to me more as a I struggle with the burden of not getting much of a break. I love my son more than words can explain, but it’s a lot of work taking care of him.
In a season of life like yours (that baby is now 22–!), I exhausted myself and developed a deep resentment against my husband, especially after babies 2 & 3 arrived. Hold tight to your vision for your future, but do all you can to fight resentment, even if it means spending precious money on a babysitter or asking a family member to come for you two to get a weekend away. Your baby needs you, but care doesn’t have to be just you all the time. These can be perilous years for young families; remember you are laying the foundation for your whole life, including after those precious babies start their own lives, and while the Lord will be with you if you have to rip up the floorboards to take care of mold, wouldn’t it have been better not to let the mold get under there in the first place?
V16: we do. Not. Give. Up. This is sanctification, the journey. The mustard seed. Obedience. Not being perfect but being made perfect in Him, by Him, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
“The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ,I will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while.” 1 Peter 5:10
It is two years next week since my husband lost his job. Two long years of mostly unemployment and living in two different states when he was employed. In the Fall, we thought we had a wonderful offer only to find it that all wasn’t as it appeared and we were back to no job just before Thanksgiving. This season has taken a toll on my husband’s confidence and it feels like it has aged me 20 years but in it all God has never ceased to be provisional. Working out things I would have never imagined possible. And now, this week my husband was offered a dream of a job that won’t even require us to move again. I don’t think any of us will fully exhale until he actually starts working but we are raising our hands in praise because none of this would have been possible without Him.
When we are in the middle of suffering it is so hard to understand but God is ALWAYS there, working something out for our benefit. So while we felt like our life and dreams were Isaac on the alter, God revealed His work in just the nick of time. If we, even being so exposed and vulnerable, keep our eyes on God, even as the enemy prowls around and plots against us, we will have peace on the journey. God is faithful that even if we are to remain in our suffering for awhile, to provide glimpses of Him, of His plan as we endure. We need only to persevere.
“Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Prayerful that we all see God, that we trust in what is unseen and have firm footing in the middle of our battlefields. ~ B
Praying this also. Thank you for sharing your struggles & the resilience God has provided. Your faith demonstrates the power of Gods presence in all of us. Blessings xxx
All I can say is wow! Thanks for that awesome reminder that He is making us into a new creation!
It’s so easy to forget that Satan is prowling and nipping at our heels. I see this playing out on the national stage with some of the policies being put in place by both democrats and republicans. In complete opposition to the Bible’s stance on life and treating the marginalized with dignity.
My tendency is to get angry, or worst passive, when I think about the abuses of power. And yet God calls me to put on my armor: truth, salvation, peace, and advance the kingdom one small step at a time as a foot soldier. I should not blame these individuals so much as pray for wisdom and protection from Satans schemes.
Come Lord Jesus!!
As others have said, the thought of sober minded means not being influenced by what can cloud your thinking. For me, that is emotions and feelings. So many days, I live my feelings to the detriment of my family. The kids disrespect, disobedience or even just the…constant-ness of it all derails me into irritation and anger and I lash out instead of simply training through love with a clear picture of the hearts as what is important. Lord, may it be Your Spirit that influenced our minds today and not our feelings, emotions or any other substance that clouds out Your voice. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
We have this treasure in clay jars,
nothing extraordinary about clay jars,
Except, for the Treasure within.
Clay jars may be cracked or broken
when that happens, the Treasure is poured forth.
Maybe,
the pouring forth is the blessing.
Indeed everything is for your benefit so that,
as grace extends through more and more people
(as Jesus is being poured out)
it may cause thanksgiving to increase
to the glory of God.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood.
As Your warrior I wear Your armor,
The helmet of salvation,
Belt of truth,
Feet of peace,
Breastplate of righteousness,
Holding firm the shield of faith
Ready to use the sword of Your Word
Saturated in prayer
When my clay becomes cracked and broken
May the Treasure that pours forth
be pure and true.
So be it Lord.
Beautiful!!
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This Sunday I walked into the church I had grown up in. No big deal, right? Except for the fact that I moved away from my little hometown 12 years ago (for my job) and was carrying baggage the size of a duffle bag around about this church. As I’ve grown older I’ve discovered that every church has its people who lift you up and those who pull you down. Moving around with the military you join a lot of churches along the way. All run by man (and woman), all reaching for Christ, all HUGE targets of the enemy.
As my family and I moved back to my hometown I never thought we would join the church I’d grown-up in. To me, there was too much baggage. However, God being God continued to whisper this churches name to me saying – “look, there is a new pastor – I am restoring that place; look, there is a new music minister – I am restoring that place; look, some of the people who brought you pain have been exposed a frauds, I have restored them but they have moved on and now I am restoring that place. Go, try!”
Eight months after moving back to this town and these whispers building and God bringing an understanding of true love to me through way of me forgiving the hurts, I went (and brought my family too). I was met with deep love from those who had stayed with the church through a dark time. I was meet with hugs and warmth from those who had no clue my inner battle.
In Sunday School we talked about “building your house upon the rock;” in the main service the pastor talked about how we are made for worship and that we will worship anything but that we are called to push those “thrones” away and worship only Him In the deepest level of ourselves. I left feeling warmth, feeling refreshed, and excited for some of the AMAZING thing I know God is about to do for that church and wanting to be a part of it.
Move on to Monday where my husband left for a business trip for the second week in a row and I could not focus on anything except my stupid phone. Motivational not there to finish unpacking my house, do laundry, etc. My deepest thrones were being brought to the front and Satan was trolling my house! By Wednesday I truly spoke this feeling of “distraction” (funny that is the same word used in this devotional) out loud but still had to push through it (with God’s strength). Here we are on Friday closing what was just a weird week and I open this devotional (1st time I’ve looked this week) and God just nails the “stand firm on my rock – name your false throne and burry it – wake up to your distractions and follow me, stay with me, be in battle with me.” So timely is He in His words and messages to us! So thankful for this today.
I resonate so much with Kristen’s analogy. It’s so hard to keep a clear mind when you are faced with life’s adversities, no matter what size. Emotions always take precedence over things like objectivity, logic or sound and sober sense. His Word is always calling on us to stay clear-minded (sober) and grounded in your faith(firm and objective) when faced with challenges. Powerful!
“Be sober-minded, be alert.”
It is so easy to get distracted, to let my mind focus on the world and not on “the God of all grace, who called me to his eternal glory in Christ, who will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support me after I have suffered a little while.” I teach high school art and I have learned that if I want to be sure my kiddos really hear what I’m saying I make them put everything down and look at me. I tell them that I need to see all their beautiful faces before I will start explaining. (I still have to repeat myself to a few, but they are teenagers!) God wants the same thing from me. When I take my focus off of Him and His truth and start chasing after “stuff” I stop being “sober-minded and alert”.
Papa God, keep me alert and my mind focused on You today. Protect me from worry, anxiety, fear, bitterness, anger – all those things Satan will use to keep my focus on the world and myself and not on You. Amen
Amen!! I love your list-restore, establish, strengthen and support-what more could we ask for?
When I think sober minded, I think it means to think clearly. People that aren’t sober are influenced by the substance. Those who are sober, are better able to the clearly. We can focus on the truth of God’s Word and not just emotions. Feeling and emotions can be misleading and have us believing lies. God’s Word is the standard to base our lives on. ( I wrote this in response to the post above.) Hope this helps.
Really helpful, thank you!
This is absolutely beautiful
Love the verse that remembers me to be sober-minded and alert. I know what when I have a cocktail or more my thoughts definitely become clouded and I am more likely to fall into a trap the devil has set. When my head is clear, I truly can see past the enemy and his tricks! I am mindful that if I am going to enjoy an adult beverage that I follow it with water and food to ensure that my mind stays within reasonable thoughts and that it is still difficult for the devil to sway me.
Be Alert ⚠️ and sober minded – still thinking about what it means to be sober minded in practice.
I am thinking about this too. If the opposite of sober is “drunk” I imagine imagine that sober in this sense means not influenced or distracted from reality. If we are sober-minded our vision is clear. We are ready at all times and prepared in every moment to face our adversary. We “see” the real enemy—the one who is out to try to destroy or “devour” our faith. The real enemy is not the one who offended us or did an injustice to us or hurt us, it is Satan who is waiting for us to show our vulnerability (fear, doubt pride, etc.) I know that When I feel attacked, I tend to focus my “fight or defense” against that person or the circumstance that is causing me to suffer. If I am to be sober-minded and alert, I can realize that the evil is from the evil one who is using the circumstances to get to me. Knowing this, shouldn’t it then be easier for me to love my enemy because they are being used by Satan to get to me? In my sober-ness I can clearly see the distinction, and keep myself from being distracted and entangled in defending myself against “personal attacks” from others and my painful circumstances. I can lift my eyes from this world and see my Savior who has already overcome this world and has saved me from the enemy. Praise God!
Yes! Attacks are from the enemy, not the person being used. Easy to forget that. Thanks for your words today!
This is so good!